Late Strike Propels Spain to Thrilling Victory Over Sweden in Women’s World Cup Semifinal.
In a heart-pounding match, Olga Carmona’s 90th-minute long-range shot found the net, propelling Spain to a dramatic 2-1 win against Sweden and securing their spot in the Women’s World Cup final. The exhilarating showdown at Eden Park on Tuesday witnessed a rapid turn of events, with Rebecka Blomqvist’s equalizer for Sweden just moments before Carmona’s decisive goal.
🇪🇸 Spain 2 – 1 Sweden 🇸🇪;
Match Conclusion: Spain Triumphs! An electrifying victory achieved, propelling their remarkable journey forward as they advance to their inaugural Women’s World Cup final. Meanwhile, Sweden’s semifinal woes persist. ⚽🏆 pic.twitter.com/0biUzC0KzI— Blinkscoop Official (@Blinkscoop1) August 15, 2023
Salma Paralluelo, previously hailed as the hero in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, ignited the scoreboard with Spain’s opening goal in the 81st minute. This dynamic play revitalized the game, which had been characterized by cautious play until then.
Spain, once torn apart by a player revolt less than a year ago, now stands on the cusp of history. They will compete for the championship on Sunday, facing either Australia or England in the final. The semifinal losers will contend against Sweden for the third-place spot on Saturday.
Sweden’s journey concluded after yet another near-miss in the penultimate stage, despite reaching the semifinals in the previous World Cup and last year’s European Championship. The match on Tuesday showcased Spain’s attacking flair against Sweden’s steadfast defensive strategy. Spain exhibited early energy, yet their efforts yielded limited results. Carmona’s long-range attempt narrowly missed the mark, and Bonmati’s powerful shot from the same side was off target.
Sweden’s defense remained resolute, and they applied set-piece pressure to finish the first half strongly.
Before halftime, Spain faced a scare as Nathalie Bjorn’s pass reached an unmarked Fridolina Rolfo in the area. However, Cata Coll, the Spanish goalkeeper, expertly saved Rolfo’s volley. Sweden continued to press forward, prompting Jorge Vilda to make a substitution—Paralluelo replaced Alexia Putellas, the quarterfinal match-winner.
In the 70th minute, Paralluelo’s involvement almost led to a goal, as she provided a clever pass to Alba Redondo. Unfortunately for Spain, Redondo’s shot hit the side netting. Eleven minutes later, Paralluelo capitalized on a defensive mistake, sending the ball into the right corner and igniting the Spanish fans’ jubilation.
As the game seemed poised for extra time, Lina Hurtig’s header reached Blomqvist, who struck a powerful shot to equalize. Yet, Carmona had the final say with her forceful shot, which ricocheted off the bar and crossed the line, securing Spain’s historic advancement in the tournament.
